All Security Watch
FocusIn cyberarms race, North Korea emerging as a power, not a pushoverA 4-year cyberattack-and-espionage campaign targeting key South Korean institutions suggests North Korean cyberwarfare capabilities are far more potent than previously believed.
Saudis reject Security Council seat: what led to the shocking snubSaudi Arabia was elected to a coveted seat on the Security Council, but the Saudis, dismayed by UN and US positions on Syria and Iran, turned it down. Some experts question the wisdom of the snub.
Robot jellyfish? Eel-like craft? Why US Navy wants undersea drones.Unmanned underwater vehicles could transform US military operations in the world's oceans, just as aerial drones have changed the way America conducts land wars. That's why the Navy is funding projects that sound as if they are pulled straight from science fiction.
After Westgate Mall attack: Al Shabab penetrates even to Kenya high schoolsLeaked intelligence reports in Nairobi say the Somali terror group is finding an audience even in prominent prep schools and academies, as well as madrassas.
NSA or Google?Pick your poison. (And cue the lame "don't be evil" jokes.)
OpinionWar robots will lessen killing – not increase itStemming from fear that autonomous robots could embark on a campaign of indiscriminate killing, some have called for a global moratorium on 'lethal autonomous robotics.' In fact, there is a convincing base of evidence that robots are more likely to prevent slaughter than engage in it.
Weapons, fighters flow to Syria's next battlefront as offensive loomsThe Assad regime appears poised to attack the strategic rebel-held Qalamoun region, which separates regime strongholds of Damascus and Syria's coast. Rebel forces have swelled in preparation.
Trail of Kenyan mall attack leads investigators to NorwayNorwegian police have been questioning friends and family of a Somalia-born Norwegian citizen who they suspect may be one of the gunmen behind last month's terrorist attack in Nairobi.
Iran nuclear talks: Will 'bad cop' Congress approve a deal?Smiles abounded after world powers ended talks this week with Iran on its nuclear program. US officials will have to win over skeptical members of Congress and key US allies if there is to be a deal.
Why a little-noticed chat between the US and Iran is a big dealDirect contact between the US and Iran, long hostile parties, drew little attention at nuclear talks in Geneva – a sign that it's rapidly becoming more routine.
Outlook for Syria peace talks dimsThe Syrian opposition has so far vowed to boycott November peace talks, bringing advantage to Bashar al-Assad, and undermining the position of a US-backed rebel group.
US debt showdown: In the eyes of the world, the damage is already doneUS politicians appear to have found a way to avoid going over a cliff and creating a US government default. But the rest of the world is taking note of how the US plays with financial fire.
Russia suspends opposition leader's sentence. Will it quiet criticism of Kremlin?The case of Russian anticorruption crusader and former Moscow mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny has put a spotlight on politically motivated trials in the country.
Iran sanctions: How much are they really hurting?Many experts argue that tough sanctions have brought Iran's economy to the brink of collapse. But other factors may be pushing Iran to the negotiating table.
NSA spying? Everyone does it.The latest Snowden revelation in the Washington Post makes it clear that the US and its National Security Agency have lots of foreign help when it comes to intelligence collection.
Iran nuclear talks: No news may be good news on Day 1The details of proposals from Iran and world powers on a nuclear agreement will remain a secret until a deal is struck – or talks collapse.
Another Afghan governor assassinated as clock ticks on US withdrawalThe governor of Afghanistan's Logar province was assassinated today. After 12 years of war, the clock is ticking on a US withdrawal from the country.
Does the NSA know who 'friended' you on social media?The latest leak about the NSA alleges that the US government uses foreign technology companies to collect hundreds of millions of digital contacts worldwide, including those of Americans.
Ahead of nuclear talks, Iran focused on sanctionsUS and Iranian and other officials are gathering in Geneva for talks on the country's nuclear program this week, but all sides are still groping for an acceptable compromise.- Kidnapping of aid workers in Syria adds another layer to conflictThe humanitarian crisis in Syria is mounting, with reports of starvation in some towns. The kidnapping of seven Red Cross and Red Crescent workers won't make aid distribution any easier.
